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By Alberto Jessurun / June 21, 2023 / Blog

Coming to Age: How Professional Audio and Video Technology Evolved Over The Years

A brief account of the innovation, craftsmanship, and ingenuity that has propelled professional audio and video technology to new heights.

Key takeaways:
  • Professional audio technology traces its root to 1665 when Robert Hooke developed the first microphone-like device 
  • The most significant breakthroughs in audio technology took place in the 19th century with inventions like the first carbon microphone, moving coil loudspeaker, and the Audion
  • Audiovisual integration only became a reality in the 1900s
  • Today’s professional audio and video technology is a stark contrast to that of two centuries ago 
Professional audio and video technology has had a remarkable journey. It has transformed several industries and pushed the boundaries of what was once imaginable.

From the early rudimentary devices to today's sophisticated digital tools and high-definition formats, professional audio and video technology advancements have revolutionized how we capture, produce, and experience visual and auditory content.

This article traces professional audio and video technology's origins, critical milestones, and profound impact across industries. Let's dive in!

Origins of audio technology and important early milestones 

Before the 1600s, professional audio technology was virtually nonexistent. For the technology to become what it is today, three inventions were necessary: 
  • A microphone to receive and transmit sound waves to electric signals
  • An amplifier to control the electric signals
  • A speaker to convert the electric signals back to sound waves
Fortunately, these technologies would become available in the second half of the 17th century.

The first carbon microphone

The earliest form of a microphone was an acoustic cup and string-style device developed by Robert Hooke in 1665. The device could transmit sound across distances.

More advancements followed in the 1800s, with Sir Charles Wheatstone making a device that could amplify weak sounds, Edouard-Leon Scott Martinville creating a phonautograph, and Emile Berliner and Thomas Edison jointly building a telephone voice transmitter.

The first significant breakthrough, however, came about in 1878 when David Edward Hughes combined his love for music and electrical engineering to create the first carbon microphone. This rudimentary device could convert sound waves into electric signals. 

Perhaps more altruistic than Berliner and Edison, Hughes refused to patent his invention, preferring to share it with the broadcast and recording industries with no strings attached.

The moving coil loudspeaker

As Hughes worked on his prototype, other leading inventors of the time explored the possibilities of loudspeaker technology. 

In 1861, Johann Philipp Reis created a basic electronic loudspeaker to reproduce clear tones and muffled speech. A few years later, Edison and Alexander Graham Bell quickly found applications in phonographs and telephones, making loudspeaker technology more widely available.

Despite the rapid advancements, there still wasn’t enough knowledge about material engineering and physics to build an electrodynamic speaker. 

However, all this changed when Siemens founder, Werner Von Siemens, introduced the concept of an electromagnetic coil-driven loudspeaker. He culminated in the first experimental moving coil loudspeaker in 1898 and the first practical device in 1915.

As loudspeakers became available, the need to increase the volume and quality of sound from these devices spurred the development of amplifiers.

The Audion amplifier

The three-part audio technology puzzle became complete in 1906 after Lee De Forest developed the Audion, a triode vacuum tube capable of increasing and controlling the strength of electric signals. 

With this new technology, sending sound created in one location to a distant location over wires without compromising its quality was possible. Quick adoption followed, with amplifiers often being used to improve speech and music at public and private events.

A new era: audiovisual integration in the 1900s and beyond

Video technology started in the late 19th century with the invention of film projection. However, the first films made in the 1890s were basic stop-motion pictures with no sound or color. So, the need to develop a technology that marries audio and video technology was immediately evident.

Inspired by Eadweard Muybridge’s Zoopraxiscope device, Edison started experimenting with different ways to combine video technology with his existing phonogram sound technology, resulting in the invention of the Kinetoscope. This device could playback sound and moving images in synchronization.

Video technology further evolved in the early 1900s, giving rise to films with sequenced pictures and more continuity. However, it wasn’t until the 1920s that sound on film became mainstream, with technologies like Warner Bros’ Vitaphone, RCA’s Photophone, and Fox-owned Movietone at the forefront. 

By the 1940s, the challenges of capturing sound-synchronized footage were widely solved.

At around the same time, Bell Labs created the first operational amplifiers, paving the way for high-powered sound systems. 

By 1975 amplification was also no longer an issue, and businesses turned their focus to improving the quality of video and sound.

The answer? Digitization.

With sound and video signals converted into digital form, recording, editing, storing, compressing, processing, and transmitting audiovisual content without compromising quality was easier.

The advent of the world wide web in 1989 further promoted the shift from analog to digital with inventions like the first commercial video codec, smartphones, and better cameras and sound systems taking shape. 

These new technologies enabled high-quality teleconferencing, ushering in a new era of real-time communication, collaboration, and video broadcast.

The current state of professional audio and video technology

Currently, professional audio and video technology is more exciting than ever. Equipment is getting more efficient, more powerful, and smaller (except screens, which will only get bigger). 

Today’s high-quality microphone, for example, can capture sound from multiple directions, providing greater control when editing and rendering sound. Additionally, miniature mics and lavaliers make hands-free operations possible.

Similarly, amplifiers and speakers have become more powerful. Combining these devices in modern setups means you can pack the same power on a smaller footprint – no more placing tons of equipment on stage.

Most notable, perhaps, is the ability to network control these devices from a smartphone, tablet, or computer, via an app, from anywhere you are.

Technologies like augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) are also changing the video and audio industries, allowing businesses to offer more engaging content. A good example is 360-degree content which will enable viewers to scan your environment for a more immersive experience.

With collaborative software, crystal-clear sound systems, and audiovisual innovations in HD video conferencing technology, mixed reality (AR and VR) enables participants to experience the benefits of in-person communication, regardless of their location.

As professional audio and video technology continues to evolve, businesses must keep up with new trends. However, not every new technology will be right for your business. That’s why having a reliable partner to help you find the right service and product package for your needs is extremely beneficial.

Level up your video and audio technology with Unisol International

Unisol International offers state-of-the-art audio and video technology solutions, with a turn-key approach, to a wide range of applications and market segments. Years of combined experience make us the perfect partner when you want a customized, integrated, total solution concept that drives growth for your business.

Contact our experts today for immediate assistance with your professional audio and video technology needs.

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